A superb bowling display by Rajshahi Kings bowlers helped them earn a 20-run victory over Dhaka Dynamites in the 17th match of Bangladesh Premier League T20 on Wednesday at Sylhet International Cricket Stadium.
With this win, Rajshahi Kings secured six points from six matches while table topper Dhaka Dynamites, which suffered their first defeat in the tournament, remained at their previous credit of eight points playing five outings.
Chasing a winning target of 137-run set by Rajshahi, Dhaka Dynamites found the chase stiff and eventually were restricted at 119 for 9 in 20 overs.
Thanks to Arafat Sunny for his sensational bowling spell with figures of 3 for 8 runs.
Dhaka Dynamites started the chase badly as they lost both their openers Hazratullah Zazai and Sunil Narine early. Andre Russell, Shakib Al Hasan and Rony Talikder also lasted a little leaving Dhaka in a deep trouble.
Nurul Hasan top scored with 20 runs while West Indies recruit Kieron Pollard made 17 for Dhaka.
Dhaka lost wickets in regular intervals and failed to stage a fight back in the face of tight bowling attacks by the Rajshahi Kings bowlers.
Arafat Sunny of Rajshahi Kings was named the player of the match for his brilliant bowling performance.
Earlier, Rajshahi Kings scored a decent total of 136 for 6 from their allotted 20 overs after they opted to bat first.
Rajshahi Kings suffered early batting jolt as they lost their skipper Mehedy Hasan. Another opener Shahriar Nafees and Marshall Ayub then steadied the innings contributing 75 runs partnership for the second wicket stand. Ayub top scored with 31-ball off 45 runs laced with three boundaries and two over boundaries while Nafees contributed 25-run off 27-ball hitting three boundaries before he fell victim to Sunil Narine’s delivery.
After the departure of two set batsmen Zakir Hasan (20) and Ryan Ten Doeschate (16) added another useful 38-run partnership for the fourth wicket stand to take the team’s total over hundred runs land mark.
Sunil Narine was the pick of Dhaka’s bowlers as he claimed three Rajshahi’s wickets conceding 19 runs.
After the match, Rajshahi Kings skipper Mehedy Hasan said:” We know we are good bowling side. Need to get more runs. Hope in the next match we get 20
runs extra. Our batters did well, especially thanks to Marshall and Shahriar Nafeez. Lower order batsmen could not play well.”
Dhaka Dynamite skipper Shakib Al Hasan said, “The way Rajshahi started, they could’ve got more runs, but we restricted them. Batting side let us down big time. But it happens in T20. We are up for every game. First and second team get two shots, so we don’t want to miss out.”-BSS
bbarta/IF
